Coffee_Johnny

Cha-cha-cha charming! Waltzing to our new normal will be slow-slow-quick-quick-slow… (other dance metaphors are available ?).

Happy New Year to you too, Ikon. All the most enjoyable ‘dances’ have a bit of backwards as well as forward momentum.

73 points is the PL average for third. 68 points the average total for fourth. Thus far this season, it looks like being pretty close to an average points accumulation, i. e. Liverpool (1st) on 42 when the average would be around 43/44 at half way, Man City (3rd) on 40 when the average would be 37. I reckon 68/69 should be enough for 4th, if I had to guess. Still a long way off of course, but 62 should secure 6th.

Nice! Today, for no apparent reason I am channelling quotes from one of Newcastle’s finest Admiral ‘Cuddy’ Collingwood (born and raised on The Side) and his mate Nelson: “Tomorrow, Newcastle expects that every man will do his duty… . See how that noble fellow Howe takes his side into action!” “Now, my Tyneside Tars, let us do something today which the world may talk of hereafter… Liverpool will knaa which cuddy kicked ‘em!” (Ok, not as visually appealing as an Aniston talisman).

Could be worse I sold him and opted for, to add insult to injury, Bernado rather than Foden.

You’ve more restraint than me, I hope they buckle like an aluminium anvil hit with a ten pound hammer!

How many points do you think will be needed to finish 4th?

?

It can happen and has, recently, to us. Check out the 2022 bit of 2021-22 season vs the earlier debacle. We surely have a better squad now (or certainly will have with bods coming back).

Take your point, in that both look like they could be improved upon and can frustrate at times. To be fair, they both have also changed games, helped us to good victories, against top sides. I suppose it is just about finding someone who is likely to be consistently better. Not that easy a task. However, having an option there (other than playing Barnes and Gordon on either wing—or add Willock to the mix) is an important gap to fill. How much it is seen as a priority is obviously determined by those with the say so.

Ah man… I’ve something else to worry about now.

If Phillips is ‘forced’ to stay there and play bit parts (though, dawns on me, willingness to take a massive pay cut might be the only thing creating the force) I wonder whether, in time, the shiny medals will seem more mocking than satisfying to him. Players have such a short time in the sun and such talent. Seems a shame to not ever be really relied upon and a fully active participant in whatever challenge your team faces.

Very fair omission.

Young Miley has a funny run

Jealousy can unsettle a team.

That’s the ticket!

Prefer if he doesn’t, tbh.

Me too. I think we wanted him and Szoboszlai (probably got Barnes and Tonali instead… how different things might have been).Wouldn’t be surprised if we’d scoped Ward Prowse too. We certainly should have used his craft.

? that really is an article in two halves. Vile negatively skewed spouting followed by more balanced realistic overview. His coffee must have kicked-in half way through.

Sorry for stats bombing your post, and hogging thread, but found the comparison I was searching for. Last 19 games of the 2021-22 season, Howe and co, managed 38 points with what was mainly Bruce’s team. 12 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses (all away, including 5-0 trouncing by Man City, except a 0-1 reverse at home to Liverpool). The same for this half season, would put us on 67 points. Which is close to the average for a 4th place finish (68) and I suspect, the way teams are taking points off one another, would be enough for 4th this season. So, in short, no reason to stop believing just yet.

After an ‘unusual’ season to date, fixtures and injuries wise, we are two points off the average points return for an eventual 6th place finish. I’m curious why you’re so certain. Are you nihilistic Nick? Nasty Nick? Or not really NUFC Nick?

Couldn’t find exact stats, but Jan to Apr 2023 was quite impressive over 55% win percentage, 1.96 points per game, and a goal difference of +40.

Did we not get 42 points in Howe’s first half-season? I’ll have a look later, but it was something remarkable like that.

Nah. Get the heavy hitters in the groove, so they can marvel at how much time they have against much weaker opponents and tear them apart.

Yep, bit of a restricted view. Can only see ‘headers’ from there…